Adjustable collapsing tap.



'F. L. BROWN 8: I. W. SPRINK. ADJUSTABLE GOLLAPSING TAP. rruonron 111.211.2113. 5, 1908.

909,749. Patented Jain. 12.1909;

4 sums-sun 1.

F. L. BROWN & I. W. SPRINK. ADJUSTABLE COLLAPSING TAP. urmoa'npn FILED FEB. 5. 1903.

909,749. Pate nted Jan. 12, 1909.

4 SHE-E TB-SHEET 3.

B y Q. fiwww I Aliorncy F. L. BROWN & I. W. SPRINK.

ADJUSTABLE GQLLAPSING TAP. APPLmATIoy rn an 31:13.5, 190a.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m kW wi 33% E an M16 MW "a county of Westmorcland and State ofPennand thoroughly practical construction of tap of the collapsing type, that is, wherein the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK L. BROWN AND ISAAC \lL'SI'RINK, OF SCOTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASIGNOBS TO CRESCENT MANUFACTURINQ COMPANY, OF SCO TTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

-' AD.TUSTABLE coLLarsr'no Tar.

Specification 0! Letters Patent. Application tiled February 5, 1963. Serial No. 414,879.

No. 909,749. Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

for holding the parts set when the chasers are expanded to operative cuttin' positions and also to n rovide a general com ination 0 parts which can be readil handled and easily understood by the or inary mechanic or operator, which is a feature of practical importance in machine shop practice.

Another object. of the invention is to )rovide an adjustable collapsing ta adapted or use on turret. lathes, or on drill presses, either stationary or on a live spindle, and in fact adapted to be operated with any of the To all whom it may concern Be it. known that we, FRI-ZDF-RIUR L. Bnown and Isaac W. Scams, citizens of the United States, both residing at Scottdalc, in the syl'vania', have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Collapsing Taps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metal working tools, and more particularly to that type of tools known as taps. and designed for cuttin threads in nuts and sockets of ditlerent articles, such for instance as the threaded couplings and connections used in uniting Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable collapsing wherein steam, 'as,watc.1r, and other piping, although the various members are compact y and seit will he understood that the nnproved concurely mounted on the tool stock, while at struction of tap claimed herein is capable of general use for threading holes.

In carrying out the present invention, the same has in view the provision of a simple the same time being readily assembled and disassembled.

With these and many other objects in view, which'will more readily a pear as the nature of the art is better un erstood, the same consists in the novel construction, comtiireaded chascrs or cutting dies are adapted l bination, and arrangement of parts hereinto be held in expanded operative positions L after moreifnlly described, illustrated, and during the threading operation, and then i claimed. retracted or collapsed when a thread of any i The essential features of'the invention are predetermined lcng'th has been cut. In this 5 necessarily susceptible to structural modificonnection, one at the main objects oi the t cation without departing from the sco e invention is to provide a collapsing tap comthereof, but a referred embodiment of t e prising positive and reliable means whereby invention is steam in the accompanying the threaded chaser-s are anton'iatically in f drawings, wherein,

tracted or collapsed from the work. or re- F igurelis a pers )ective view of a collapsleased from thcir operative positions. so that ing tap eonstrnct'e in accordance with the the cutting or threading operation can be presentinvention. Fig. 2 is an end view automatically arrested when the tap has 1 thereof, showing the end body cap removed l to expose the interlocked feathered connecreached the proper depth in the work.

tion hciwccn the chascrs and the tape'r plug Aniorc' general o ject of the invention is l to provide a tool of the character indicated, j of the opt-rating plunger therefor. Fig. 3 is 40 which possesses extreme simplicity of con- 5 a longitudinal sectional new of the tool.

provide a strong and positive locking device Fig. 4 is a similar view of the tool, the line of section being at right angles to the line of section of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective vicw of the tool stock, with all detachable i parts removed therefrom. Fig. 6 is a destruction combined with the utmost tlicicncy in operation, the arrangement for cx iiantling and collapsing the chascrs is such that its i action is absolutely positive. while at the same time the cliascrs are a tiordcd a solid seat or shoulder throughout their entire E tail in perspective of the end body cap.

lengths so as to he rigidly supported against E Fig. I is a perspective view of the operating the action of out. In this phase of the in- Lphingcr showing two of the threaded ehasers vention, the same contemplates a constrncdetached therefrom. Fig. 8 is a detail view tion which aroids the objection to the chasof thc retracting spring and retaining nut ers floating in the tool stock or holder, as associated with the longitudinally movable is common to some taps of this character. operating plungerfor the chasers. Fig. 9

A further object of the invention is to is a detail in perspective of the adjustable knock-elf device for retracting the operating ordinary machinery and with tapping tools.

plunger, and hence the chasers therewith. ig. 10 is a detail in erspective view of the longitudinally slidab e locking ring. Fig. 11 IS a simi ar view of the rotatable cam ring. F ig. 12 is a detail in perspective of one of the thrust springs for closing the lock ing ring to a locking position, and thereby be ding the cam ring against rotation. Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on the line 13--13, at one side of the end retaining ring and illustratin the stationary spring carrier. for the auxi iary erating spring which assists in rotating t e cam ring in the collapsing operation or the tool.

Like references The improved matter of the present application, in its general organization a main body por' tion 1, which mav be characterized as a tool stock. This tool stock is preferably of a tubular cylindrical formation and 18 pro vided in one end portion thereof with what may be termed a sprin socket 2, and in its opposite end portion with an enlarged bore ortion constituting what may be termed an enlarged workin s ace 3 for one of the movable elements 0% t e tool. IAlso, at one end, the tool stock 1 has formed therein a plurality of suitably s aced and longitudi' nally arranged die gui mg slots 4 adapted to loosely accommodate therein the lon 'tudinally disposed and radially shiftable c asers or dies 5. All of said chasers or dies 5 are of a general conventional form, each of the same consisting of a flat, approximately rectangular late formed at its outer cutting threads 6 which are complements of the corresponding threads of the other chasers to form the complete tap for a threading operation. According to the present invention to their usual outer threaded cuttin edges 6, are formed with inclined inner arm edges 7, which therefore make the individua chasers of an inwardly tapering width, and said inclined inner bearing faces 7 are directly and slidably supported on the solid, flat, supporting seats 8 provided by the inclined at sides of the cross sectionally angular taper plug 9. This taper plug 9 is formed integrally orrigidly with one end of a lon 'tudinally movab e operating plunger 10 sli ably mounted within the lon itudinal bore of the hollow tool stock 1, an having one end ortion thereof lying within the s rin soc et 2, and the plug part 9 thereof s idab y registering, at its major diameter, in the working space 3 of the tool stock, all of which plainly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin In connection with the mounting of the chasers, it is lpreferable to provide a f ered interloc ing connection between the at; same and the taper plug 9,

and this may be edge with the the said chasers 5, in addition conveniently and satisfactorily accomplished by forming the taper plug at one ed e of each of its flat supporting seats 8 with an an ular or hook sha ed feathering rib 11 which slidably inter ocks with a holding groove 12 formed longitudinally in one face of the chaser contiguous to its inner incline edge 7, as may be seen from Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings. While the connection described permits a relative longitudinal movement between the taper pin 9 and the individual chasers 5, thereby o viatin the objection to the well known floating c asers, it will also be observed that the chasers take a solid seat upon the flat faces 8 of the taper plug and are therefore accurately supported at a 1 points, besides being rigidly supported against the action of the cut.

"The proper mounting and retention of theehasers and their operating element 9 is completed by the employment of a circular end body cap 13 screwed or otherwise detachably fastened upon the end of the tool stock carrying the chasers, and preferably rovided at one side with an inturned cover ange 14 having a flush fit in the rabbeted seat 15 provide upon one end of the tool stock. The said cover flange 14 of the cap 13 is provided at intervals with clearance notches 16 registering with the die guiding slots 4 of thexeo'l stock and roviding clearance for the outer endsof t e chasers.

It. will be a parent that the longitudinal movement of t e operati in the tool stock necessari panding and, collapsing the chasers through their guiding slots 4, and the said plunger is placed under normaLretracting spring pressure through the employment 0 a plunger retracting sprin 17 housed within the spring socket 2 of t e tool stock and hearing at one end against an inner bearing shoulder 18 within the tool stock, and at y pro' ades for exits other end against a terminal retaining upon an intermediate bearing section 21 of the tool stock. The said section 21 is finished to provide an easy bearing for the rotata le cam ring 20, and the latter is preferab y formed at one side thereof with a laterally projecting bearing collar 22, which collar has formed in diametrically. opposite portions thereof, the inclined or oblique cam grooves 23, which respectively receive and engage the opposite end portions of the cross slide pin 24 which is fitted in the operating plunger 10 and projects beyond both sides of the latter so as to afford a direct operating and coup iu'g' connection between t 1e plunger 10 withward, that is, in a direction for drawing back the operating plunger and thereb retracting or collapsin the chasers, as will be well understood roin the foregoing description.

The assembly of the partsimmediately associated with the cam ring 20 and the lockin ring 27 is completed by means of an en retainin ring 53 secured upon the threaded shoul er 4.7 of the tool stock at the back of the ring or disk constituting the stationary 5 ring carrier 44.

The knock'ofl or release of the chasers from the work is effected through the employment of an adjustable knock-off device 54 consisting of a strike head 55 in ring form, and the oppositely arranged angle carrying arms 56. The ring strike head 55 encircles that portion of the tool stock carrying the chasers 5 and is adapted to come in contact and frictionally en age with the work when the limit of the t reading operation has been reached. The angle carrying arms 56 are rigidl connected to opposite portions of the stri e head 55 as at 57', and theparallel members of the opposite arms 56 are provided therein with longitudinally disposed adjustment slots 58 which receive the binder screws or bolts59 engaging" threaded sockets 60 provided in the perip of the locking ring 27 at diametrically opposite points, and at the places where the t readed sockets 60 are located, the edge of the locking ring 27 has formed therein the angular or eqluivalent shaped seats 61 which admit of the. ongitudinal adjustment of the arms 56, while at the sametime they hold the same against lateral deflection or movement. Similar seats 62 are provided in diametrically opposite ed e portions of the cam ring 20 to receive and race the slotted portions of the arms 56, and this connection between the said arms and the cam ring also assists in holding the cam and lpcking ring for rotation together, thou h not interferin in the least with the independent longitn inal sliding movement of the locking 1% the use of the tool, when the same is to be put into operation, the operators handle 28 of the cam ring'is (grasped and pushed forward, that is, in a irection for advancing the operating plunger 1.0 in a direction for causing the taper plug. 9 to ex pand the threaded chasers outward through the guiding slots 4 therefor. The rotation of the cam ring in said direction also carries the locking ring to a position which brings the lock pm 34 thereof opposite the keeper 35 of the fixed abutment ring' 37. When this occurs, the thrust springs 30 come into play and slide the lockin ring forward with the result of carrying fe lock pin 34 into rigid locking engagement with the fixed abutment ring 87, thus securely holding the cam ring, as well as the operatin r plunger 10, locked in position for holding t is chasers expanded in their operative threading positions, such chasers at the same time having a rigid support on the supporting bases or seats 8 of the taper plug 9.

When the tool is run into the work, the threading operation continues until theface of the work comes in contact with the strike head or ring 55 of the knock-otf device, and the continuedpressure of the tool against the work causes the knock-off device to slide the locking ring backward so as to disenabutment ring. his action releases the cam ring so that through the combined friction of the work against the knock-off device, and the force of the auxiliary operating s ring 45, the cam ring 20 is revolved in a direction which draws back the operatin plunger and consequently retracts or co lapses the chasersand releases the tool from the work without need of reversing the tool, work, or machine.-

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advanta es of the herein described collapsing tap wil be apparent without further descripdetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriificing any of the advantages of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a collapsing tap, a tool stock having a fixed abutment and carrying radially shiftable threading chasers, a rotatable cam ring operatively connected with the chasers, a s ring-pressed locking device slidably inter ocked with the cam rin and having an engagement with said fix abutment, and a knock-ofl device connected with said locking device, and comprising means for disengaging the locking device from the abutment and also, by friction with the work providing for the backward rotation of the cam ring. a

2. In a collapsing tap, a tool stock having a fixed abutment rm and carrying radially shiftable threading c asers, a rotatable cam ring operativcly connected with the chasers, a spring pressed locking ring having a slidable feathered connection with the cam ring and ads ted to have a lockin enga ement with sais fixed abutment of t e too stock, and a work engaged knock-0E device con- 3. In a collapsing ta a 5001 stock carrying radially shlftable t reading chasers and provided with a fixed abutment element, a rotatable cam ring operatively connected with the chase'rs, a sprin vpressed lockin ring operating between t e cam ring an abutment element, said locking ring having a slidable feathered connection with the cam gage the'locking in thereof from the fixednecterl to, and movable with, the locking ring.

tion, and it will be understood that various. ehan es in the form, proportion, and minor ring and provided with a lock pin adapted to engage said fixed abutment element, thrust s rings carried by the cam ring and arrange at one side of the locking ring for advancing the latter, and a work enga ed knock'ofl' device connected to, and movdhle with, the locking device.

4. In a collapsing ta a tool stock carry ing radially shiftable c lasers and having a fixed abutment, a rotatable cam ring operatively connected with the chasers, a spring carrier ring held to the stock, an auxiliary operating spring carried by said carrier and arranged to aseist the rotation of the f 15 cam ring in a backward direction, a locking device rotatable with and slidable on the cam ring and en aging said abutment, and a work engaged TUIOCk-Ofi device connected with the locking device for releasing the latter and also arranged to provide, through friction with the work, for rotation of the cam ring in a backward direction.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures in the presence of two wit nes ee.

FREDERICK L. BROWN. ISAAC \V. SPRINK. Witnesees:

E. F. DOORLEY, KATHRYN PHELAN. 

